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No. 15: Duet (Risotto and Minestra)
MINESTRA. | I’d be a young girl if I could! | ||
RISOTTO. | You’re very good — you’re very good: | ||
But that unlikely I’m afraid is! | |||
MINESTRA. | I’d be as lovely as a rose! | ||
RISOTTO. | So I suppose — so I suppose. | ||
And so, no doubt, would most old ladies! | |||
MINESTRA. | I’ll rouge my face, make up my
eyes, With cunning dyes — with cunning dyes — |
||
My venerable looks anointing. | |||
I’ll try my best your heart to thrill. | |||
RISOTTO. | I’m sure you will, my love, but still | ||
It is a little, little disappointing! |
MINESTRA. | RISOTTO. | ||
It is a little | |||
Just a little | Just | ||
a little, | |||
a little, little disappointing! | little, little disappointing! | ||
It is a little | |||
Just a | |||
Just | little, | ||
a little, | |||
a little, little disappointing! | a little, little disappointing! |
RISOTTO. |
|
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There’s no mistake — there’s no mistake? | |||
Your rugged wrinkles you can’t thin off? | |||
MINESTRA. | I’ve scrubbed, and scrubbed,
and scrubbed away For half a day, for half a day, |
||
Until I’ve almost scrubbed the skin off! | |||
So gouty and rheumatic I, That though I try, that though I try, |
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I scarce can fasten my shoe buckles. | |||
RISOTTO (looking at her fingers). | |||
My bride could write (so gouty
she) “No Popery! No Popery!” |
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On the walls with all her knuckles! |
MINESTRA. | RISOTTO. | ||
It is a little | |||
Just a little | Just | ||
a little, | |||
a little, little disappointing! | little, little disappointing! | ||
It is a little | |||
Just a | |||
Just | little, | ||
a little, | |||
a little, little disappointing! | a little, little disappointing! |
Exit RISOTTO, slowly and despondingly.